Skirmish at Keith

This is the bridge mentioned in the text

Thursday, December 1st, 1748.—I was favoured with a visit of one Robert Stewart, (Captain Robert Stewart) who had been in the Prince’s army in station of a captain under the command of Colonel John Roy Stewart. As the said Robert Stewart had been engaged in the skirmish at Keith, he gave me an exact and particular account of it, and at the same time he repeated to me an epitaph upon Cumberland composed (as Stewart declared to me) by a Highlander in Glenlivet. I begged he would favour me with a narrative of the skirmish, and likewise with a copy of the epitaph in his own handwriting, which he frankly complied with, and accordingly made his promise good on Saturday’s evening, December 10th, when he made me another visit, and delivered to me the papers out of his own hand, exact

COPIES of which are as follows:--

The Prince’s men at Spey that day having passed the water about 10 o’clock to Fochabers to refraish themselves, about 12 o’clock an alerm was rumered through Fochabers that Cumberland’s army was upon them, comeing down the burn of Ault-chace, and wou’d cut them all to pices (that is a burn which comes betuixt two hills, and they could be within 2 or 3 musquet shote to Spey before they cou’d be observed). Lord John Drummond, who commanded then at Spey, ordered the pipes to play and drums beat to arms, and after drawing up at his order, they began their march down the back of the town to the waterside to take up ground for action (providing they had the least prospect for victory; for upon the 17th there had come about 3000 of Cumberland’s men, commanded by General …….., to Strathbogie, 12 miles from Spey or Fochabers, and dispossessed Roy Stewart and Abachie. Gordon’s batallions, a part of Lord Elcho’s troop of guards and a few of the hussars, amounting in whole to about 500 men, who formed the Prince’s advanced guard, and made a safe retreat without the lose of one man after they were within musquet shote of the 3000 men, and when they joined Lord John Drummond at Spey, the whole of them wou’d not have been above 900 or 1000 men at that time. But to return to the subject again. The day being a little mistie, and surrounded with hills, they could not see far about them. At last Cumberland’s light horse appeared within less nor a mille upon the hill of Fochabers patrolling that ground, upon which the hussars sent out a patrolling to observe if any body of men was at hand, and returning with accounts that they could see none, the whole returned to Fochabers again for a 2d refreshment, after they had standed about 2 or 3 hours under arms.

Site of the village in 1745

Original road to Keith

Old church wall

Campbells Cave

A detatchment of Roy Stewart’s men was order’d to take the guard under the command of Captain Lodowick Stewart, representative of Sir Walter Stewart of Strathdown and Glenlivet, who examined very strictly all passengers that passed and repassed. About an hour after the pipes play’d and drums beat to arms to march to the berracks on the other side of the Spey. At passing the water Major Glasgow came to Collonell Stewart by order of Lord John Drummond and demanded an detatchment of his men to go on an expedition with him. The Collonel refused by reason they had undergone a great dale of fatigue by forming the rear guard on the retreat from Stirling, and had never been relieved from the advance guard and outposts since they came to that country, and that it was hard they should undergo so much fatigue, and the rest having lyn at more ease. The Major returned to Lord John with this accounts, and obtained a second order, and in half an hours time he was at the Collonel again and told that he had Lord John’s express order, and would not ruske the expedition unless he got his detatchment (the regiment being under a prettie good character). Then the Collonel gave orders for 5 men of a company to be turned out, the whole fifty (which accordingly was done) to be commanded by Captain Robert Stewart, younger, representative of the said Sir Walter Stewart of Strathdown and Glenlivet, and upon his examinen the men’s arms and ammunition found them in a very indifferent order, was obliged to disperse the most of all his own powder and shote (who keept himself always well provided on all occasions). Then throwing away his plaid he desired that every one might doe the like, etc. Then order’d by the Collonel to march his partie to the cross of Fochabers, there to wait for further orders from Major Glasgow who was to command the whole partie in chief, upon his marching back to the cross again the inhabitants seem’d a little surprised; but to prevent further conjectures, Captain Stewart called out prettie loud to get the keys of the guard-house, for he was come to take the guard of the town that night; but at the same time disered his sholdiers quaitly, if they inclined, to take any small refreshment by half duzons, they might. He had not been a quarter of a houre at the cross, when a small body of hussars came ridding down the street on heast, and told him that Cumberland’s leight horse was in the Fir Park, within rig length of the toun, that they had been fireing on one another for some time, that they wanted a partie of his men to line the horse, and wou’d go into the Park and attack them. The Captain told them they behived to go to Major Glasgow, and on getting his order for that effect, as he commanded above him, they shou’d have them, but not otherwise; upon which they went off. This detatchment had waited upon the street about three quarters of an hour, when in the duskish of the evening the Major came up with a detatchment of Lord Ogilvie’s men, about 16 of the French and about 20 or 30 horses of different cores. Upon seing the partie before them the French officer challanced how was there. Captain Stewart answered it was Collonel Stewart’s men. The French officer replied he was very well pleased to see them there, that was the brave men. The Major called Captain Stewart, told him to allow the French to go in the frount, and that they would shew them the way, that Lord Ogilvie’s was to follow him in the rear, which accordingly was done. Away they marched and entered the Fir Park, the horse commanded by Lieutenant Simpson, surrounding [the same and searching it out to the other end, finding none of the enamie, then sat down very quite till such time as the horse had patrolled the whole bounds and returned again, finding none of the leight horse. Then they began their march again towards Keith; at the same time Major Glasgow told Captain Stewart that the French was to form the advance guard with the horse, that he was to march at a hundered paces distance (which was pointedly observed). Then upon their way they got intelligence of their enamies patroll having passed before them. After 5 miles marching they parted from the Keith road eastward, and passed by Taremore. They searched it, but found none of their enamies there, then passed the Water of Ilia at Milln of Keith, made a circle round the toun to the tents of Summer-eves fair, as if they had been from Strathbogie. Then Captain Stewart was ordered to close up with his partie to the advance guard. As 12 o’clock at night struck they came near the toun.

The Campbells’ sentry challanced how was there. It was answered, Friends, the Campbells. He replied, You are very welcome, we hear the enamies at hand. On there coming up to him they seased his arms, griped him by the neck, and threw him to the ground. Then he began to cray. They told him if he made any more noice they wou’d thrust a durk to his heart. Then Lieutenant Simpson surrounded the toun with the horse, the Major with the foot entered the toun, marched doun the street and up to the church yeard, when finding their guard in the schooll, their main body in the kirk, the French began the action with a platoon on the guard, and a general huza was given with these words, ‘God save Prince Charles.’ The action continued very hote on both sides about half an houre (the fire from the Campbells coming very hard from the windows of the kirk). Captain Stewart, turning to the kirk, called out with these words, You rebells, yield or die. About the middle of the action Captain Stewart was severely wounded with a musquet ball through both his shoulders. Part of his men observing this seem’d a little disheartened, but he observing told them, Gentlemen, no more such things take notice, but still to act as he commanded. Att the surrendery of the kirk and guard, the Major sent to Captain Stewart desiring that he might come with a pertie of his men, for he was like to be overpowred in the streets (for Kingston’s leight horse was quartered in the toun). Captain Stewart immediately came down to the street with a partie, where there was a prettie hot action for some time in the street, vaankished them and made the whole of them prisoners, carried them over the Bridge, and sent back a partie to assist bringing up the rest of the prisoners. Upon their coming up Captain Stewart began at the first end of the prisoners, and ranked them two men a rank, and planting his sholdiers on each side of them, at the same time giving his men strick charge over them as he went forward. By this time with the loss of blood that Captain Stewart had sustained was begining to turn a little wake, was obliged to put off his arms and take a horse, but there being accounts amongest them that there was 700 of Cumberlands horse lodged in the country about, they were a little doubtsom that they might be attacked by the horse and the prisoners taken off. For this reason Captain Stewart road in the rear, keeping too the men, and in due order to prevent any of them falling into their enamies hands, providing they were attacked.

In this action there was 9 of Cumberland’s men killed, a good number wounded, about 80 taken prisoners, and betuixt 20 or 30 horses, which Major Glasgow with his partie delivered at Spey a little before Sun rising.

Of the Prince’s there was only one Frence man killed, but a good many wounded, particularly Lord Ogilvie’s men, as they happned to stand in the south side of the kirk yeard, by the fire from the windows of the kirk.

The above is a true and distinct account, which at your desire I have ingeniously reported without favour to one or another. This with my dutifull respects.—I remain, Reverent Sir, Your most obliged and humble servant,

Notes: Reprinted exactly as printed in the Lyon in Mourning except for the folio numbers associated with the text.With regard to the injury sustained by Captain Stewart, Bishop Forbes added the following footnote on page 216. ‘In at the left shoulder and out at the right, for Captain Stewart made me feel the wound, like a furrow on his back. He told me when he got the wound he happen’d to be looking about to see if his men were keeping close by him. This wound prevented his being at Culloden battle’.